Twilight and her companion, Spike, raced through the forest, rain pounding on their heads. The unicorn used a small amount of her magic to keep the water out of her eyes, but it was next to imposable to see through the combined darkness of the forest and the rain being blown in every direction. A misplaced hoof sent the purple mare sprawling onto the ground and the small dragon on her back flying into the air, heading straight for the river.
“Twilight!” Cried Spike as he flailed his arms, helpless to stop the inevitable splash into the river.
Twilight jumped to her feet just in time to see the small dragon splash into the rushing waters. “Spike!” She cried, scanning the river bank for the purple dragon.
Spike's head reemerged from the savage river a few feet farther down, “Help Twilight!” His small body thrashing agents the current in a futile attempt to fight it. He managed to grab onto a low hanging tree branch.
“Hang on Spike, I'm coming!” Twilight quickly began to conjure up a levitation spell, but suddenly, Spike's body began to rise out of the water.
“My my, is that who I think it is?” A voice came from behind Twilight. She turned to see a very large, very purple sea serpent with fiery orange hair and a fabulous mustache poking out of the river under another tree. “Oh it is! Oh dear Twilight! How have you been?”
The serpent brought his tail up and over the river bank with Spike clutching on for dear life until he was safely over solid ground. The baby dragon hit the ground with a soft thud, soaked and shivering, but alright. “You saved me.” said Spike.
“Oh it was not trouble at all little friend.” The serpent said with a smile, careful not to take his head out from under the protection of the tree. “Twilight, what are you doing out in such a dreadful storm?”
Twilight was familiar with this purple serpent, they had first met during her first time in the Everfree forest after Nightmare Moon had ruined his prized mustache. After her friend, Rarity, helped restore said mustache, they had all become fast friends and he swam up river every once in a while to visit Ponyville. “Steven,” Twilight called the serpent by name, “I'm in a lot of trouble, would it be too much to ask if you could help me across the river again?”
Steven looked at the pony and frowned, “You're not planing on going to that nasty little ruin again, are you dear?” there was concern in his voice.
Twilight pleaded with the serpent “Please Steven, my friends are in danger.”
“It's no problem at all Twilight,” said the serpent as he arched a part of his body over to the bank for Twilight to step on, “but please, be careful, there have been strange things happening at the dreadful place this past week. I don't want you getting hurt.”
Twilight hopped on to Steven's back and he maneuvered his body to the other side of the rushing river. “Thank you, could you please check back here after a while, I'll need a way back if this storm doesn’t settle down by then.”
“Anything for you, Twilight dear.” The serpent said with a smile. “Take care, and good luck!” He gave a small wave and disappeared back under the waters.
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A half hour later, Spike and Twilight came across the canyon before the ancient castle. To the pair's collective shock, there was a massive wall of roaring winds that cut straight down the canyon. The small wooden bridge, the only way across, had somehow survived the terrible onslaught of gale force winds.
“Twilight,” Spiked spoke in Twilight's ear, “There's no way we can cross that, we'll be blown off!”
Twilight thought for a moment, the only spell she had that could help them across was here teleportation spell, but she was afraid of where she might end up because she could not see the other side.
As she sat, pondering on her new predicament, thunder rang out once more when lightning struck near the bridge. To both Twilight and Spike's amazement, a small gap in the winds opened around the bridge, just big enough for a pony to fit through.
“N-n-n-nightmare Moon?” Stammered Spike, still transfixed on the opening.
“She wants us to come...” Twilight said in a low voice. “Spike, if you want to stay here, I won't think less of you.”
Spike looked up at Twilight, then back to the bridge. He puffed out his chest, “No way Twilight, I'm with you to the end!”
Twilight smiled a bit, then motioned for Spike to hop back on to her back. She walked along the bridge slowly in order to make sure she didn't place a hoof through one of the holes where a rotted board had fallen out years ago. She looked around at the magical wall blocking the wind from the bridge, it even stopped the rain form getting in. Tree branches swirled around the bridge, caught in a vortex made by the disruption in the air. It was completely silent.
When the pair finally reached the other side, they were shocked to find that there was no storm and the clear night sky was overhead. The full moon was centered right above the highest tower of the ancient castle and strange lights were flashing in it's windows.
“That's where she is, Spike.” Twilight motioned to the tower, “This is your last chance.”
The dragon's body was shaking uncontrollably, “I-i-i-i-i-i-i-i'm n-n-n-n-n-n-n-not, l-l-l-l-l-leaving y-y-y-y-y-y-you.”
Twilight gave her assistant a stern look, but he remained clamped around her neck. With a sigh, She took off full gallop towards the tower. The air around them was charged, like static electricity, crackling with every movement. There was no wind, no sound at all other than the steady sound of hooves on moss covered stone, deep breathing and the occasional chattering of dragon teeth. The door at the base of the tower and long since rotted away, leaving the stairway open to all who dare to enter this place.
The pair charged up the long, spiral staircase, up and up and up to the very top. Sounds of crackling and electricity could be heard, louder and louder as they dashed up the stair case. Nothing could stop Twilight from saving her friends now.
Finally, once they reached the top, a pair of strong, iron doors blocked their way. Twilight looked at Spike on her back, he was still shaking, but he returned the look, signaling he was ready. Twilight used her magic to throw open the door. She was not prepared for what she saw.
In the large stone room was a single, golden chair near the back wall and the remains of a carpet, long since rotted away, leading to the chair form the door. Floating above the room was a gigantic ball of what seemed to be electricity, arking in every direction. Inside this giant ball of light were Twilight's friends: Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, all appeared to be unconscious.
“Hmhmhmhmhm...” a soft laugh came from near the chair, “Beautiful, isn’t it?, I used this same spell to brainwash some of the guards 1,000 years ago.” The faint outline that was Nightmare Moon slowly walked toward Twilight, her light blue armored hooves clacking on the stone floor.
“Let my friends go!” Twilight shouted.
Nightmare Moon laughed, “And just what are you going to do if I don't?” As she moved closer, her outline became more and more filed in, albeit still translucent.
“I'll... I'll...” Twilight grasped at straws in her mind. Once again, she lowered her head and charged at Moon, only managing to pass right through her. Unable to stop herself, she crashed into the golden chair. Spike was sent flying off of her back, smashed into the wall and fell behind the chair.
Nightmare laughed again, “Tell me, do you have anymore bright ideas in that head of yours?” Moon's horn began to glow and she appeared right next to the dazed Twilight. “Where are your beloved Element of Harmony now?” Nightmare Moon cackled gleefully as a vortex picked up around Twilight, she felt a heavy weight around her legs and neck as she was lifted up into the air, struggling. “Struggle all you want, you'll never break these chains. You'll be my servant just like the others. The Elements will be MINE!” Twilight struggled with all her might against the magical chains, to no avail.
“Let. Her. Go!” A voice rang out form behind Nightmare. Before she could turn to see, Spike jumped out form behind the throne and latched onto Moon's chest plate. Nightmare was helpless to do anything and the tiny dragon thrashed about wildly, trying to hit anything he could, only to have his claws and feel connect only with air.
“Enough!” Nightmare shouted. A wave of dark magic threw Spike across the room, toward the door.
“Spike!” Twilight cried, she knew he'd never survived if he fell down the center of the staircase. “No!”
For Spike, time slowed to a crawl, “Heh, maybe that wasn't such a good idea.” he though, still speeding toward the door. “I'm sorry, Twilight.” Just as he was prepared to meet his maker, he felt a pair of legs wrap around him, he looked up expecting to see a dragon angle. “Am... I...” He said slowly. He saw a dark blue pony had caught him just before he had made his trip down the tower. “Pri-Princess!?”
Princess Luna had caught the young dragon and saved him form his terrible fate. Her face was dirty, her forelegs were covered with dried blood. Her ankles were bused and swollen. She flapped her wings a few times and landed on the ground where she set Spike down. She stared at Nightmare, sheer determination in here eyes.
“So, you escaped again young Princess!” Nightmare Moon yelled, “You're too late, I have what I want!” Princess Luna said nothing, She lowered her head and used her wings and legs to charge forward at Moon, stopping right in between her and Twilight. “Impudent child!” cried Nightmare.
Luna quickly lunged at Nightmare, aiming her hoof and her helmet. She managed to knock it off of the translucent witch. “No! What have you done!?” Nightmare streaked and her head faded away, along with her magic.
The chains disappeared from Twilight's neck and legs and she fell to the floor. Luna rushed over to help her to her feet. “Princess! You're alright!?” Twilight said in shock, then she remembered, “Spike! Where's Spike!?” She looked around and spotted him by the door. Twilight rushed over to the small dragon and warped her forelegs around him, “Spike, I was so worried.” she had tears in her eyes.
“Luna rushed over to the pair, “We need to go.” she said flatly.
Twilight looked up at the princess, “But, my friends, we need to save them!”
Luna looked down at Twilight, “Twilight, she wants the Elements. If she gets them, who knows what she will be able to do.”
Twilight looked up at her friends floating in the air, “But, you're Princess Celestia's sister, with our magic we can free them!” She stood up and look the princess in the eyes.
“I-I...” Luna looked away.
Nightmare Moon had manged to regain her headpiece, “She can't help you.” She said slyly, “She has no magic, not anymore.” Moon laughed again.
Twilight's eyes widened, “You mean-”
“We have to leave, now!” Luna yelled at Twilight and then she pushed her out on to the staircase, “We can't fight her, not now.” Twilight shook her head, dumbfounded.
“Get back here you foals!” Cried Nightmare. A whirlwind picked up around the three.
Horror spread across Luna's face at the prospect of being chained up again,“Twilight!” she cried, desperate to snap Twilight out of her trance.
Involuntarily, Twilight's horn began to glow. The three of them disappeared with a blinding flash of light.
Nightmare scoffed, “Pathetic foals...” She was ready to chase them herself, but inspiration struck. She looked up at the unconscious ponies above her. A wry smile spread across her face.